Author: Tyler Parette

Sunny opportunity for Oklahoma schools? (Journal Record)

By Jim Roth According to the Oklahoma Policy Institute and other reputable observers, “Oklahoma had the dubious honor of having made the deepest cuts to school funding in the nation since the start of the recession in 2008. Now an… Read more [More...]

Oklahoma lawmakers passed numerous bills raising fines, fees (The Oklahoman)

By Rick Green The Oklahoma Legislature passed a number of measures this year that may raise fines or fees. A one-time, $5 fee to pay for new license plates will generate an estimated $18.5 million, plus an additional $4 million… Read more [More...]

Oklahoma faith leaders, other advocacy groups call for payday lending reform (The Oklahoman)

By Carla Hinton Elise Robillard, of Norman, remembers when she was a struggling, cash-strapped teacher and payday loans seemed to be a stopgap solution to gain much-needed funds. “As a single mom, I was in a position where I was… Read more [More...]

Educate Oklahoma: School Vouchers (News on 6)

By Emory Bryan  TULSA, Oklahoma – This past year, the Oklahoma Legislature came closer than ever to creating education savings accounts – what critics simply call school vouchers. And next year, the legislature will almost certainly try again. The public… Read more [More...]

Oklahoma’s Medicaid director announces resignation (The Oklahoman)

By Jaclyn Cosgrove and Rick Green The state Medicaid director announced his resignation Monday in a letter to the agency’s board, noting it was the “right time to explore options in the private sector.” Oklahoma Health Care Authority CEO Nico… Read more [More...]

EPS explains funding for Pre-AP instruction (Enid News)

By Sally Asher  Enid Public Schools officials agreed to hire teachers to offer instruction in middle school Pre-AP courses earlier this week, and administrators have announced how they will fund the new teachers. As budget cuts and teacher shortages ravage… Read more [More...]

Funding tightens for trooper raises (Woodward News)

By Janelle Stecklein OKLAHOMA CITY — Two years after troopers got hefty raises, the state can no longer afford them and is considering furloughs and other cuts to make ends meet in the Department of Public Safety. The plight of… Read more [More...]

Surveying State Tax Policy Changes Thus Far in 2016 (Tax Justice Blog)

By Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy Staff With the exception of New Jersey, the dust has now settled on most state legislatures’ 2016 tax policy debates.  Many of the conversations that took place in 2016 were quite different than… Read more [More...]

Former Air Force captain outraising Baptist preacher in race to represent Edmond (News OK)

By Rick Green Ultraconservative issues pushed by Edmond preacher Paul Blair appear to be hurting him in fundraising for the state Senate District 41 race against former Air Force Capt. Adam Pugh. Business interests are concerned that some of Blair’s… Read more [More...]

Education fail, part the infinity: The best and (mostly) worst of SQ 779 (Tulsa Voice)

By Barry Friedman  “I personally don’t like sales taxes particularly.” That was OU President David Boren, during an interview with Intermission Magazine in January, talking aboutState Question 779, an amendment on November’s ballot that would raise sales taxes statewide by… Read more [More...]